Midweek TV Preview: 7 - 10 December 2009

Monday 7th December

19:45 Watford v Queens Park Rangers, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Both teams find themselves back in the thick of it just two days after suffering defeats in the Championship. While Watford went down 2-0 to 10-man Newcastle, QPR were being thumped 5-1 at home by Middlesbrough, however a win for Rangers today could put them fourth in the table (albeit temporarily).

Tuesday 8th December

19:45 Juventus v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League Group A, Sky Sports Xtra
Now that Bordeaux have top spot sewn up in Group A, this is effectively a fight for second place and survival in the competition. Both teams are in good form at the moment, but a repeat of the 0-0 they played out in September will only suit Juventus. Bayern need to win, and that's about all there is to it. A great game for anyone not bothered about Man U's plight.

19:45 Maccabi v Bordeaux, UEFA Champions League Group A, Sky Sports Xtra
The deadest of dead rubbers. Bottom of the group versus top. Maccabi are out, Bordeaux are guaranteed top spot in Group C. Now move along please - nothing to see here...

19:45 Wolfsburg v Manchester United, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Man U have done all the hard work now and can spend their evening trying to frustrate Wolfsburg as they attempt to make second spot their own. That said, Fergie's team is falling apart as we speak. Even Vidic has dropped out now due to injury to add to the other growing band of crocks. Could be a good time for the German champions to be looking for the three points they need.

19:45 Besiktas v CSKA Moscow, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Xtra
While that's going on though, CSKA will be trying to beat Besiktas in the hope of grabbing Wolfsburg's place in the next round, should they slip up. Both teams are equally matched where current form's concerned, but the Russians won the previous meeting between these two if that's anything to go by.

19:45 Marseille v Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports Xtra
Realistically, Marseille have to win this big-style to be certain of going through, and even then they'll need Milan to lose in Zurich. Real lead the group and may get away with a draw against Deschamps' men, but the inevitable win for Milan over Zurich elsewhere in this group will make it a jumpy night for both these teams.

19:45 FC Zurich v AC Milan, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports Xtra
Zurich are in wretched form at the moment. Milan, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last twelve games in all competitions. Only one way this game's going...

19:45 Chelsea v APOEL, UEFA Champions League Group D, Sky Sports Xtra
Chelsea are through to the next round, APOEL can only hope for a Europa League place. 'One-sided' probably won't even come close.

19:45 Atletico Madrid v Porto, UEFA Champions League Group D, Sky Sports Xtra
Atletico have finally remembered how to win matches in La Liga again, and just in the nick of time if they're to use the same talents to finish third in their Champions League group. A draw will suffice - a defeat, and they might lose out to APOEL.

20:00 Leeds United v Kettering Town, FA Cup Second Round Replay, ITV4
The winners of this tie face Manchester United in the Third Round, and while you have to favour the League One side it should be noted that Leeds haven't won a home tie in the FA Cup since 2003. The original match ended 1-1 and was a great match: more of the same should be on offer here - and with the added possibility of penalties at the end too.

Wednesday 9th December

19:45 Liverpool v Fiorentina, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports 2/HD2
It seems almost cruel for Liverpool to have to go through with this now that they're out of the competition, but hey - it's been a bonus playing in the Champions League when the height of your ambition is finishing fourth in the Prem.

19:45 Lyon v Debrecen, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports Xtra
Lyon are having one almighty wobble at the moment and haven't won a match since the end of October. Lucky for them that Liverpool haven't been much kop lately (ho-ho), otherwise it could've been a different outcome for Claude Puel's men.

19:45 Dynamo Kiev v Barcelona, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Xtra
Group F remains the closest of them all and though Kiev are at the wrong end of it, they could easily finish top by beating Barca tonight. Two teams in great form with all to play for in the best game of the night.

19:45 Inter Milan v Rubin, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Xtra
Rubin will have had a 10-day break by the time this game comes around having wrapped up the Russian Premier League title at the end of November. Inter, for their part, didn't get the best preparation for this match by losing 2-1 to Juventus at the weekend. Both teams are level on six points in this group, and like Kiev and Barcelona need to win in order to progress to the knock-out stages.

19:45 Sevilla v Rangers, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports Xtra
Sevilla are through to the next round, Rangers can't even get a Europa League spot. Sky Sports Xtra? Sky Sports Detritus, more like...

19:45 Stuttgart v Unirea Urziceni, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports Xtra
As Terry reported yesterday in Bundesbag, Stuttgart now have ex-Tottenham favourite Christian Gross as their new coach and what an important game this is to start his new period at the helm. Quite simply, a win over Unirea tonight will guarantee Champions League football for Stuttgart for at least one more round. Nothing else will do.

19:45 Olympiacos v Arsenal, UEFA Champions League Group H, ITV1/HD
Arsenal are already through to the knockout stages. The Greeks need a draw to join them.

19:45 Standard Liege v AZ, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Xtra
...and if they don't draw, Standard Liege could qualify with Arsenal instead by beating AZ here tonight. They'll need to pick up their first win in a month to do it, though.

Thursday 10th December

19:30 TBC, Coppa Italia, ESPN
We're finally into the Round of 16 in this season's Coppa Italia, but sadly ESPN are keeping their cards close to their chests as to which game they'll be showing. Juventus v Napoli is the tie of the round, but that could be entirely irrelevant based on the whims of the programme planners. Visit ESPN's website on the off chance of getting updates nearer the time